SpaceX’s Merlin 1D engine

SpaceX is a space transportation company founded in California by the same guy who founded Tesla Motors and Paypal etc.  They have designed a new boost engine that has the potential revolutionize space travel. It has the capability to loose two engines and still ensure safe travel and the reason it is so amazing is that it is the first of its kind to be a potential candidate for a reusable space engine. It has improved manufacturability where it is much cheaper to produce than the engines NASA has been using to date and it has a simplified design which reduces labor costs and part requirements. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the manufacturing of space craft and space engines turn into something similar to the aircraft industry, where space travel becomes much more common and affordable. Here is a link to an article about the engine.

The Power of Nuclear Fusion

I would like to bring some attention to the possibility harnessing the power of nuclear fusion here on Earth. Just imagine the impact this technology would have. We would essentially be able to harness the energy of the Sun and have almost limitless power (in a physics sort of way). It turns out that we are much closer to this goal then I would have thought. According to CNN, a European experiment facility JET claims to have generated 16 megawatts of fusion power for a few seconds, which is enough to supply 8000 homes. Something a youtube video brought up that I find interesting is how little money is invested in this Energy source. The energy market can be up to $13 trillion dollars a year, but only about $2 Billion (the equivalent of a single small hedge fund or private equity firm) is invested in nuclear fusion technology. A project ITER is expected to harness sustained nuclear fusion power by 2030.